The 10th annual TEEX Leadership Development Symposium in San Marcos, TX, broke previous attendance records with 969 participants, including 27 attendees from other states. The event, held Jan. 8-10, 2018, meets continuing education requirements for Texas emergency responders. It covered topics related to leadership, safety, law and policy, budgeting, health and nutrition, communication, generational differences in the workplace and more

.

Sessions were led by 30 top subject-matter experts from across the state and nation. Keynote speakers included Corps of Cadets Commandant Brig. Gen. Joe Ramirez Jr. of Texas A&M University, San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood, President Geoffrey Tumlin of On Demand Leadership, On a Mission CEO David Griffin, Former Army Ranger Kris Paronto and TVA President Todd Dewett.

"It was especially rewarding to get to talk about leadership with so many professionals who exhibit leadership, integrity, courage, and a commitment to excellence in everything they do every day,” said Gen. Ramirez. “I am certain that symposiums like this only serve to make these men and women who face difficult situations every day, and who have to make tough decisions under difficult circumstances, even better at what they do to serve and protect our communities and their citizens."

Participant Mike Richardson, Fire Chief of the Decatur Fire Department, added: “To be successful in challenging times, we have to remember that success is directly dependent upon effective leadership. The TEEX Leadership Development Symposium offers the tools, motivation and timely relevance I need to improve my own abilities, as well as help me to succeed in developing quality leaders for the future of my organization.”

There was no registration fee for Texas first responders to attended the conference, which is sponsored annually by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and funded, in part, by Texas general revenue.